Data output control apparatus connected via a network to a portable terminal and a plurality of printing apparatuses

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a data output control apparatus which is suitable for allowing detailed information on a network to be readily obtained. A data output control terminal selects one of printing apparatuses corresponding to a data-format-conversion terminal which allows conversion of data associated with a data print request; outputs the data associated with the data print request to the data-format-conversion terminal allowing conversion of the data and corresponding to the printing apparatus; by the data-format-conversion terminal, converts the data associated with the data print request into data which can be printed by the printing apparatus; and outputs the converted data to the printing apparatus. One or more of data-format-conversion terminals is selected in accordance with the transmission load of the Internet, and data-format-conversion processes are executed by the data-format-conversion terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus, and a method therefor,which is communicatively connected, via a network, to a portableterminal carried by a user, and to a plurality of printing apparatusesprovided at various locations, and which outputs, in response to a dataprint request from the portable terminal, data associated with the dataprint request to one of the printing apparatuses. More specifically, theinvention relates to a data output control apparatus which is suitablefor allowing detailed information on a network to be readily obtained.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, information on the Internet is readily availableanywhere using, for example, i-mode™ provided by NTT MobileCommunications Network, Inc. (NTT DoCoMo).

However, although such a portable terminal allows information on theInternet to be readily obtained anywhere, because the structure of adisplay is simplified for purposes, such as reducing the size of, andsaving energy for, the portable terminal, the displayed information israther simplified compared with a display on an ordinary personalcomputer, which does not satisfy a user with the information servicethat is provided.

Accordingly, in order to provide detailed information, while continuingto reduce the size of, and save energy for, the portable terminal, astructure can be provided in which, by combining a portable terminal anda printing apparatus, rough information is displayed on the portableterminal while detailed information is printed by the printingapparatus. However, combining the portable terminal and printingapparatus faces several technical problems which must be solved.

For example, since the printing apparatus is large in size and isdifficult to carry with the portable terminal, in order to print thedetailed information, ordinarily, the printing apparatus that will beused is provided at a home or at an office. However, use of a fixed,particular printing apparatus would hardly allow information to bereadily obtained anywhere. In order to achieve this, it is required thateither the size of the printing apparatus be reduced to such an extentas to allow it to be carried, or an arbitrary printing apparatus beallowed to be used. The former is not feasible because it is technicallyvery difficult to achieve with technology that is presently available.The latter is not feasible either because each printing apparatusrequires a unique driver, thus requiring that the portable terminal beembedded with drivers for each of the printing apparatuses to be used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention solves the above problems with theconventional art, and an object thereof is to provide a data outputcontrol apparatus which is suitable for allowing detailed information ona network to be readily obtained.

In order to achieve the above object, data output control apparatusesaccording to the present invention are provided, wherein detailedinformation on the network can be readily obtained compared with theconventional art. In particular, even if an output terminal is newlyprovided, setting of the data conversion device needs to be changed bythe service provider only in relation to the new output terminal,allowing the new output terminal to be used without any change insetting by the user. Accordingly, the service provider will receive theadvantages that setting works for newly provided output terminals arefacilitated and that an information service with an adequatesatisfaction can be provided to the user.

In accordance with the data output control apparatuses according toanother aspect of the present invention, data conversion is executed atpositions where the transmission load of the network or the processingload of the data conversion device is low; thus, irrespective of thetransmission load of the network or the processing load of the dataconversion device, the time required for receiving the service of outputdata is substantially constant. Accordingly, the service provider alsoreceives the advantage that a print service with an even morecomfortable printing environment can be provided to the user.

In accordance with the data output control apparatus according toanother aspect of the present invention, detailed information on thenetwork can be readily obtained compared with the conventional art. Inparticular, an optimal image is displayed on the portable terminal inaccordance with the display functionality, allowing the user to grasprather accurately an image of the data associated with the data printrequest as printed by the output terminal. In addition, by notifying theuser of the preview data prior to the service of output data, the useris prevented from printing wrong data. Accordingly, the service providerreceives the advantage that an information service with an adequatesatisfaction can be provided to the user.

In accordance with the data output control apparatuses according toanother aspect of the present invention, detailed information on thenetwork can be readily obtained compared with the conventional art. Inparticular, even if an output terminal is newly provided, setting of thedata conversion device needs to be changed by the service provider onlyin relation to the new output terminal, allowing the new output terminalto be used without any change in setting by the user. Accordingly, theservice provider will receive the advantages that setting works fornewly provided output terminals are facilitated and that an informationservice with an adequate satisfaction can be provided to the user.

In accordance with the data output control apparatuses according toanother aspect of the present invention, data conversion is executed atpositions where the transmission load of the network or the processingload of the data conversion device is low; thus, irrespective of thetransmission load of the network or the processing load of the dataconversion device, the time required to receive the service of outputdata is substantially constant. Accordingly, the service provider alsoreceives the advantage that an output service with an even morecomfortable output environment can be provided to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic showing the structure of data output controlapparatuses according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic showing the structure of data output controlapparatuses according to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic showing the structure of a network system in whicha data output control apparatus according to the present invention isapplied;

FIG. 4 is a schematic showing the structure of a portable terminal 100;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing data print request processes;

FIG. 6 is a schematic showing the structure of a data output controlterminal 300;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing data output control processes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Data output control apparatuses according to the present invention willbe described below with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is aschematic showing the structure of the data output control apparatusesaccording to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic showingthe structure of the data output control apparatuses according to thepresent invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a data output control apparatus 10 according to ofthe present invention is an apparatus which is communicativelyconnected, via a network, to a portable terminal 20, carried by a user,that issues a data print request, and to a plurality of output terminals21, provided at various locations, that print data, and which outputs,in response to the data print request from the portable terminal 20,data associated with the data print request to the output terminals 21.The data output control apparatus 10 includes a data conversion device11 that converts the data associated with the data print request intodata which can be printed by the output terminals 21; a selecting device12 that selects one of the output terminals 21; and an output device 13that outputs the data converted by the data conversion device 11 to theoutput terminal 21 selected by the selecting device 12.

In accordance with the arrangement, when the data print request isreceived from the portable terminal 20, the selecting device 12 selectsone of the output terminals 21; the data conversion device 11 convertsthe data associated with the data print request into the data which canbe printed by the output terminals 21; the output device 13 outputs theconverted data to the selected output terminal 21; and then, the outputterminal 21 prints the data.

The selecting device 12 may be implemented in any form as long as itselects one of the plurality of output terminals 21. More specifically,an output terminal 21 which is presumably the most suitable for the userof the portable terminal 20 to receive the service of output data isselected. In this case, the output terminal 21 which is presumably themost suitable for the user of the portable terminal 20 to receive theservice of output data is, for example, an output terminal 21 which ispresumably nearest, in terms of distance or time, with reference to theposition of the portable terminal 20, a portable terminal 21 which ispresumably nearest, in terms of distance or time, with reference to adestination of the user of the portable terminal 20, an output terminal21 which presumably allows the user to receive the service of outputdata quickest in time with considerations to the data output rates ofthe output terminals 21, or an output terminal 21 which provides theservice of output data at a cheapest price. The same applies to dataoutput control apparatuses 10 according to other aspects of the presentinvention as described hereinbelow.

The data associated with the data print request may be obtained, forexample, by receiving from the portable terminal 20 or obtaining from asource other than the apparatus 10 and the portable terminal 20. In thelatter case, more specifically, the arrangement may be such that theapparatus is further connected communicatively, via a network, to a datastorage terminal which stores data, and includes an obtaining devicethat obtains the data associated with the data print request from thedata storage terminal, the data conversion device 11 converts the dataobtained by the obtaining device into the data which can be printed bythe output terminals 21. The same applies to data output controlapparatuses 10 according to other aspects of the present invention asdescribed hereinbelow.

In accordance with the arrangement, when the data print request isreceived from the portable terminal 20, the obtaining device obtains thedata associated with the data print request from the data storageterminal; the data conversion device 11 converts the obtained data intothe data which can be printed by the output terminals 21; and the outputdevice 13 outputs the converted data to the output terminal 21 selectedby the selecting device 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, a data output control apparatus 10 according toanother aspect of the present invention is an apparatus which iscommunicatively connected, via a network, to a portable terminal 20,carried by a user, that issues a data print request, and to a pluralityof output terminals 21, provided at various locations, that print data,and which outputs, in response to the data print request from theportable terminal 20, data associated with the data print request to theoutput terminals 21. The data output control apparatus 10 includes aplurality of data conversion devices 11 that convert, of the dataassociated with the data print request, data of predetermined formatsinto data which can be printed by one or more of the plurality of outputterminals 21; a selecting device 12 that selects one of the plurality ofoutput terminals 21 from output terminals 21 corresponding to a dataconversion device 11 which allows conversion of the data associated withthe data print request; and an output device 13 that outputs the dataconverted by the data conversion device 11 to the output terminal 21selected by the selecting device 12. The data associated with the dataprint request is output to one of the plurality of data conversiondevices 11, which is a data conversion device 11 allowing conversion ofthe data and corresponding to the output terminal 21 selected by theselecting device 12.

In accordance with the arrangement, when the data print request isreceived from the portable terminal 20, the selecting device 12 selectsone of the plurality of output terminals 21 from the output terminals 21corresponding to the data conversion device 11 which allow conversion ofthe data associated with the data print request. Then, the dataassociated with the data print request is output to one of the pluralityof data conversion devices 11, which is a data conversion deviceallowing conversion of the data and corresponding to the output terminal21 selected by the selecting device 12. The data conversion device 11converts the data associated with the data print request into the datawhich can be printed by the output terminal 21 selected by the selectingdevice 12. The output device 13 outputs the converted data to theselected output terminal 21. Then, the output terminal 21 prints thedata.

As shown in FIG. 2, a data output control apparatus 10 according toanother aspect of the present invention is an apparatus which iscommunicatively connected via a network to a portable terminal 20,carried by a user, that issues a data print request, and to a pluralityof output terminals 21, provided at various locations, that print data,and which output, in response to the data print request from theportable terminal 20, data associated with the data print request to theoutput terminals 21. The data output control apparatus 10 includes adata conversion device 11 that converts the data associated with thedata print request into data which can be printed by the outputterminals 21; a selecting device 12 that selects one of the plurality ofoutput terminals 21; and an output device 13 that outputs the dataconverted by the data conversion device 11 to the output terminal 21selected by the selecting device 12. The data conversion device 11 iscommunicatively connected to the network, changing its position on thenetwork in accordance with the transmission load of the network or itsown processing load.

In accordance with the arrangement, when the data print request isreceived from the portable terminal 20, the selecting device 12 selectsone of the plurality of output terminals 21; the data conversion device11 converts the data associated with the data print request into thedata which can be printed by the output terminals 21; the output device13 outputs the converted data to the selected output terminal 21; andthen, the output terminal 21 prints the data. When the data conversiondevice 11 executes the data conversion, the data conversion device 11changes the position of the data conversion device 11 on the network inaccordance with the transmission load of the network or its ownprocessing load.

The data conversion device 11 may be implemented in any form as long asit changes its position on the network in accordance with thetransmission load of the network or its own processing load. Morespecifically, for example, the data conversion device 11 is allowed tobe connected to a plurality of different positions of the network,changing the position of connection on the network in accordance withthe transmission load of the network or its own processing load.

The portable terminal 20, the output terminals 21, and the dataconversion device 11 may all be communicatively connected via the samenetwork, or may be communicatively connected via different networks,respectively. In the example in FIG. 2, they are communicativelyconnected via different networks, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, according to a data output control apparatus 10according to other aspects of the present invention, in the data outputcontrol apparatus 10, the data conversion device 11 changes its positionon the network to a position, of the positions the data conversiondevice 11 is allowed to be connected to, at which the transmission loadof the network or its own processing load is low.

In accordance with the arrangement, when the data conversion device 11executes data conversion, the data conversion device 11 changes theposition of the data conversion device 11 on the network to a position,of the positions on the network the data conversion device 11 is allowedto be connected to, at which the transmission load of the network or itsown processing load is low.

As shown in FIG. 2, according to a data output control apparatus 10according to other aspects of the present invention, in the data outputcontrol apparatus 10, the data conversion device 11 selects a dataconversion terminal 15 with which the transmission load of the networkor its own processing load is low, of a plurality of data conversionterminals 15, communicatively connected to the network, that executedata conversion processes which convert the data associated with thedata print request into the data which can be printed by the outputterminals 21, the data conversion processes being executed by theselected data conversion terminal 15.

In accordance with the arrangement, when the data conversion device 11executes data conversion, the data conversion device 11 selects, of theplurality of data conversion terminals 15, the data conversion terminal15 with which the transmission load of the network or its own processingload is low, the data conversion processes being executed by theselected data conversion terminal 15.

As shown in FIG. 1, a data output control apparatus 10 according toanother aspect of the present invention is an apparatus which iscommunicatively connected, via a network, to a portable terminal 20,carried by a user, that issues a data print request, and to a pluralityof output terminals 21, provided at various locations, that print data,and which outputs, in response to the data print request from theportable terminal 20, data associated with the data print request to theoutput terminals 21. The data output control apparatus 10 includes animage data generating device 14 that generates image data which can bedisplayed on the portable terminal 20, which is an image of the dataassociated with the data print request as printed by the outputterminals 21; a selecting device 12 that selects one of the plurality ofoutput terminals 21; and an output device 13 that outputs the dataassociated with the data print request to the output terminal 21selected by the selecting device 12. The output device 13 outputs theimage data generated by the image data generating device 14 to theportable terminal 20, and when a data print execution request isreceived from the portable terminal 20 as a response to the output ofthe image data, it outputs the data associated with the data printrequest to the output terminal 21 selected by the selecting device 12.The image data generating device 14 generates the image data inaccordance with the display functionality of the portable terminal 20 towhich the image data is to be output.

In accordance with the arrangement, when the data print request isreceived from the portable terminal 20, the selecting device 12 selectsone of the plurality of output terminals 21, and the image datagenerating device 14 generates, in accordance with the displayfunctionality of the portable terminal 20 to which the image data is tobe output, the image data which can be displayed on the portableterminal 20, which is an image of the data associated with the dataprint request as printed by the output terminals 21. Then, the outputdevice 13 outputs the image data generated to the portable terminal 20,and when the data print execution request is received from the portableterminal 20 as a response to the output of the image data, the dataassociated with the data print request is output to the output terminal21 selected by the selecting device 12. Then, the output terminal 21prints the data.

As shown in FIG. 1, a data output control apparatus 10 according toanother aspect of the present invention is an apparatus which iscommunicatively connected, via a network, to a portable terminal 20,carried by a user, that issues a data output request, and to a pluralityof output terminals 21, provided at various locations, that output data,and which outputs, in response to the data output request from theportable terminal 20, data associated with the data output request tothe output terminals 21. The data output control apparatus 10 includes adata conversion device 11 that converts the data associated with thedata output request into data which can be output by the outputterminals 21; a selecting device 12 that selects one of the outputterminals 21; and an output device 13 that outputs the data converted bythe data conversion device 11 to the output terminal 21 selected by theselecting device 12.

In accordance with the arrangement, when the data output request isreceived from the portable terminal 20, the selecting device 12 selectsone of the output terminals 21; the data conversion device 11 convertsthe data associated with the data output request into the data which canbe output by the output terminals 21; the output device 13 outputs theconverted data to the selected output terminal 21; and then, the outputterminal 21 outputs the data.

The selecting device 12 may be implemented in any form as long as itselects one of the plurality of output terminals 21. More specifically,an output terminal 21 which is presumably the most suitable for the userof the portable terminal 20 to receive the service of output data isselected. In this case, the output terminal 21 which is presumably themost suitable for the user of the portable terminal 20 to receive theservice of output data is, for example, an output terminal 21 which ispresumably nearest, in terms of distance or time, with reference to theposition of the portable terminal 20, a portable terminal 21 which ispresumably nearest, in terms of distance or time, with reference to adestination of the user of the portable terminal 20, an output terminal21 which presumably allows the user to receive the service of outputdata quickest in time with considerations to the data output rates ofthe output terminals 21, or an output terminal 21 which provides theservice of output data at a cheapest price. The same applies to dataoutput control apparatuses 10 according to other aspects of the presentinvention as described hereinbelow.

The output terminal 21 may be implemented in any form as long as itoutputs data, and includes, for example, a display that displays data, asound output device that outputs data as sound, etc., or a printer thatprints data. The same applies to data output control apparatuses 10according to other aspects of the present invention as describedhereinbelow.

The data associated with the data output request may be obtained, forexample, by receiving from the portable terminal 20 or obtaining from asource other than the apparatus 10 and the portable terminal 20. In thelatter case, more specifically, the arrangement may be such that theapparatus is further connected communicatively via a network to a datastorage terminal which stores data, and includes an obtaining devicethat obtains the data associated with the data output request from thedata storage terminal, the data conversion device 11 converts the dataobtained by the obtaining device into the data which can be output bythe output terminals 21. The same applies to data output controlapparatuses 10 according to other aspects of the present invention asdescribed hereinbelow.

In accordance with the arrangement, when the data output request isreceived from the portable terminal 20, the obtaining device obtains thedata associated with the data output request from the data storageterminal; the data conversion device 11 converts the obtained data intothe data which can be output by the output terminals 21; and the outputdevice 13 outputs the converted data to the output terminal 21 selectedby the selecting device 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, a data output control apparatus 10 according toanother aspect of the present invention is an apparatus which iscommunicatively connected, via a network, to a portable terminal 20,carried by a user, that issues a data output request, and to a pluralityof output terminals 21, provided at various locations, that output data,and which outputs, in response to the data output request from theportable terminal 20, data associated with the data output request tothe output terminals 21. The data output control apparatus 10 includes aplurality of data conversion devices 11 that convert, of the dataassociated with the data output request, data of predetermined formatsinto data which can be output by one or more of the plurality of outputterminals 21; a selecting device 12 that selects one of the plurality ofoutput terminals 21 from output terminals 21 corresponding to dataconversion device 11 which allows conversion of the data associated withthe data output request; and an output device 13 that outputs the dataconverted by the data conversion device 11 to the output terminal 21selected by the selecting device 12. The data associated with the dataoutput request is output to one of the plurality of data conversiondevice 11, which is data conversion device 11 allowing conversion of thedata and corresponding to the output terminal 21 selected by theselecting device 12.

In accordance with the arrangement, when the data output request isreceived from the portable terminal 20, the selecting device 12 selectsone of the plurality of output terminals 21 from the output terminals 21corresponding to the data conversion devices 11 which allow conversionof the data associated with the data output request. Then, the dataassociated with the data output request is output to one of theplurality of data conversion devices 11, which is data conversion deviceallowing conversion of the data and corresponding to the output terminal21 selected by the selecting device 12. The data conversion device 11converts the data associated with the data output request into the datawhich can be output by the output terminal 21 selected by the selectingdevice 12. The output device 13 outputs the converted data to theselected output terminal 21. Then, the output terminal 21 outputs thedata.

As shown in FIG. 2, a data output control apparatus 10 according toanother aspect of the present invention is an apparatus which iscommunicatively connected, via a network, to a portable terminal 20,carried by a user, that issues a data output request, and to a pluralityof output terminals 21, provided at various locations, that output data,and which outputs, in response to the data output request from theportable terminal 20, data associated with the data output request tothe output terminals 21. The data output control apparatus 10 includes adata conversion device 11 that converts the data associated with thedata output request into data which can be output by the outputterminals 21; a selecting device 12 that selects one of the plurality ofoutput terminals 21; and an output device 13 that outputs the dataconverted by the data conversion device 11 to the output terminal 21selected by the selecting device 12. The data conversion device 11 iscommunicatively connected to the network, changing its position on thenetwork in accordance with the transmission load of the network or itsown processing load.

In accordance with the arrangement, when the data output request isreceived from the portable terminal 20, the selecting device 12 selectsone of the plurality of output terminals 21; the data conversion device11 converts the data associated with the data output request into thedata which can be output by the output terminals 21; the output device13 outputs the converted data to the selected output terminal 21; andthen, the output terminal 21 outputs the data. When the data conversiondevice 11 executes the data conversion, the data conversion device 11changes the position of the data conversion device 11 on the network inaccordance with the transmission load of the network or its ownprocessing load.

The data conversion device 11 may be implemented in any form as long asit changes its position on the network in accordance with thetransmission load of the network or its own processing load. Morespecifically, for example, the data conversion device 11 is allowed tobe connected to a plurality of different positions of the network,changing the position of connection on the network in accordance withthe transmission load of the network or its own processing load.

The portable terminal 20, the output terminals 21, and the dataconversion devices 11 may all be communicatively connected via the samenetwork, or may be communicatively connected via different networks,respectively. In the example in FIG. 2, they are communicativelyconnected via different networks, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, according to a data output control apparatus 10according to another aspect of the present invention, in the data outputcontrol apparatus 10, the data conversion device 11 changes its positionon the network to a position, of the positions the data conversiondevice 11 is allowed to be connected to, at which the transmission loadof the network or its own processing load is low.

In accordance with the arrangement, when the data conversion device 11executes data conversion, the data conversion device 11 changes theposition of the data conversion device 11 on the network to a position,of the positions on the network the data conversion device 11 is allowedto be connected to, at which the transmission load of the network or itsown processing load is low.

As shown in FIG. 2, according to a data output control apparatus 10according to another aspect of the present invention, in the data outputcontrol apparatus 10, the data conversion device 11 selects a dataconversion terminal 15 with which the transmission load of the networkor its own processing load is low, of a plurality of data conversionterminals 15, communicatively connected to the network, that executedata conversion processes which convert the data associated with thedata output request into the data which can be output by the outputterminals 21, the data conversion processes being executed by theselected data conversion terminal 15.

In accordance with the arrangement, when the data conversion device 11executes data conversion, the data conversion device 11 selects, of theplurality of data conversion terminals 15, the data conversion terminal15 with which the transmission load of the network or its own processingload is low, the data conversion processes being executed by theselected data conversion terminal 15.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings. FIG. 3 to FIG. 7 are diagrams showing a dataoutput control apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the data output controlapparatus according to the present invention is applied to a case where,by a portable terminal 100 carried by a user, such as a cellular phone,and a data output control terminal 300 communicatively connected, viathe Internet 400, to printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n) respectivelyprovided at a plurality of shops S₁ to S_(n) existing at variouslocations, a service provider, in response to a data print request fromthe user, provides a service wherein data associated with the data printrequest received from one of WWW (World Wide Web) servers DS₁ to DS_(m)is obtained and output to one of the printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n).For ease in understanding the present invention, only a single portableterminal 100 is shown; however, a plurality of different types of theportable terminal 100 can be connected to the Internet 400.

First, the configuration of a network system in which the data outputcontrol apparatus according to the present invention is applied will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a schematic showing thestructure of the network system in which the data output controlapparatus according to the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 3, a junction station 210 which relays communicationsbetween the portable terminal 100 and the Internet 400, the printingapparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n) that print data, the WWW servers DS₁ to DS_(m)on which data is stored, the data output control apparatus 300 thatobtain data associated with a data print request from one of the WWWservers DS₁ to DS_(m) and output the data to one of the printingapparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n), and data-format-conversion terminals CS₁ toCS_(l) that convert the data obtained by the data output controlterminal 300 into data which can be printed by the printing apparatusesPR₁ to PR_(n), are connected to the Internet 400.

A plurality of base stations 200 which communicate with the portableterminal 100 by wireless are connected to the junction station 210. Whenthe portable terminal 100 is connected to the Internet 400, the junctionstation 210 serves on behalf of the portable terminal 100 as a terminalon the Internet 400. Data which is received from the portable terminal100, via a base station 200, is transmitted to a designated terminal viathe Internet 400. Data on the designated terminal connected to theInternet 400 is transmitted to the portable terminal 100 via the basestation 200. The portable terminal 100 simultaneously communicates withat least three base stations 200, and the junction station 210 obtainsthe difference in the amount of time taken for radio waves from theportable terminal 100 to reach each of the base stations 200, so thatthe position of the portable terminal 100 can be determined based on thetime difference obtained.

Each of the WWW servers DS₁ to DS_(m) includes a storage unit whichstores display data to display on the portable terminal 100 and printdata that prints by the printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n) correspondingto the display data, and a request processing unit which, in response toa request from a terminal connected to the Internet 400, such as thejunction station 210 and the data output control terminal 300, transmitsthe data in the storage unit to the terminal.

The request processing unit, the functionality thereof being implementedby a CPU which is not shown, executing a program which is stored in anexternal storage device, etc., transmits either the display data or theprint data in the storage unit in response to a data transmissionrequest from an external terminal (the portable terminal 100, the dataoutput control terminal 300, etc.). The determination as to which of thedisplay data or the print data is transmitted is performed according toa URL included in the data transmission request. The storage unitstores, as the print data, various files of, for example, text data,still picture data, sound data, motion picture data in MPEG, etc., 3Dimage data in VRML, etc., or program data in JAVA etc., and HTML (HyperText Markup Language) files.

The data-format-conversion terminals CS₁ to CS_(l) are terminals thatexecute data-format-conversion processes in which the data obtained bythe data output control terminal 300 is converted into data which can beprinted by the printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n). According to thetransmission load of the Internet 400 or the processing load of thedata-format-conversion terminals CS, one or more of thedata-format-conversion terminals CS₁ to CS_(l) is selected so that thedata-format-conversion processes will be executed on the selecteddata-format-conversion terminals CS. More specifically, in the order forthe transmission load of the Internet 400 or the processing load of thedata-format-conversion terminals CS to be low, one or more of thedata-format-conversion terminals CS₁ to CS_(l) is selected as requiredfor the data-format-conversion processes.

Each of the data-format-conversion terminals CS on which thedata-format-conversion processes are executed receives from the dataoutput control terminal 300 a data-format-conversion request and thedata to be converted; and by the data-format-conversion processes, ofthe data obtained by the data output control terminal 300, converts dataof a predetermined format to data which can be printed by thecorresponding printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n); and transmits theconverted data to the data output control terminal 300.

For example, if the format conversion processes are executed on thedata-format-conversion terminals CS₁ to CS₃, the data-format-conversionterminal CS₁ converts, of the data obtained by the data output controlterminal 300, data in a predetermined format A (e.g. HTML format) intodata which can be printed by the printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR₅; thedata-format-conversion terminal CS₂ converts, of the data obtained bythe data output control terminal 300, data in a predetermined format B(e.g. JPEG format) into data which can be printed by the printingapparatuses PR₆ to PR₁₀; the data-format-conversion terminal CS₃converts, of the data obtained by the data output control terminal 300,data in a predetermined format C (e.g. WORD™ document format) into datawhich can be printed by the printing apparatuses PR₁₁ to PR₁₅; and soforth. In this case, apparently, the printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR₅serve as apparatuses dedicated to print data in the predetermined dataformat A, the printing apparatuses PR₆ to PR₁₀ serve as apparatusesdedicated to print data in the predetermined data format B, and theprinting apparatuses PR₁₁ to PR1 ₅ serve as apparatuses dedicated toprint data in the predetermined data format C.

In addition to converting the data obtained by the data output controlterminal 300, each of the data-format-conversion terminals CS on whichthe data-format-conversion processes are executed, in accordance withdisplay capabilities (the number of lines to be displayed, displayresolution, etc.) of each type of the portable terminal 100, generatespreview data which can be displayed on the portable terminal 100, i.e.,an image of the data obtained by the data output control terminal 300 asprinted by a printing apparatus PR, and the preview data generated istransmitted to the data output control terminal 300.

Thus, the data output control terminal 300 transmits thedata-format-conversion request and the data obtained from a WWW serverDS to the data-format-conversion terminal CS corresponding to theprinting apparatus PR by which the data associated with the data printrequest is to be printed, and as a response thereto, receives the datawhich can be printed by the printing apparatus PR by which the data isto be printed and the preview data.

Next, the structure of the portable terminal 100 will be described withreference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic showing the structure of theportable terminal 100.

As shown in FIG. 4, the portable terminal 100 comprises a CPU 30 whichcontrols operations and the overall system based on a control program; aROM 32 which stores, in advance, the control programs for the CPU 30,etc. in a predetermined area; a RAM 34 which stores data read from theROM 32, etc. and operation results required in the course of theoperations by the CPU 30; an LCDC (Liquid Crystal Display Controller) 36that converts data stored in a specific area of the RAM 34 into an imagesignal and outputting the image signal to an LCD (Liquid CrystalDisplay) 44; and an I/F 38 which intermediates data input from and dataoutput to external apparatuses; the components being mutually connectedvia a bus 39, which is a signal line that transfers data, so as to allowexchange of data.

As the external apparatuses, a key panel 40 which serves as a humaninterface and which allows input of data using a plurality of keys, atransmission and reception control apparatus 42 that communicates withthe base stations 200 by wireless, the LCD 44 on which an image isdisplayed based on the image signal, and a positioning apparatus 46 thatdetermines the location of the current position are connected to the I/F38.

The ROM 32 stores, in addition to the control program for the CPU 30,authentication data to determine whether or not the user is a legitimateuser of the print service provided by the data output control terminal300.

The RAM 34 includes, as the specific area, a VRAM 35 that stores thedisplay data to display on the LCD 44, the VRAM 35 allowing independentaccesses from the CPU 30 and the LCDC 36.

The LCDC 36 sequentially reads, at a predetermined cycle, the displaydata stored in the VRAM 35 from the start address, converts the displaydata which has been read into an image signal, and outputs the imagesignal to the LCD 44.

The positioning apparatus 46 employs GPS (Global Positioning System),etc., to receive time signals from orbiting satellites which transmitthe time signals indicating the current time, determining the locationof the current position based on the time difference indicated by thetime signals and the orbits of the orbital satellites.

The CPU 30 is formed of a microprocessing unit MPU, etc., and activatesa predetermined program stored in a predetermined area of the ROM 32 toexecute, according to the program, data print request processes shown inthe flowchart of FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the data printrequest processes.

In the data printing request processes, by issuing a data print request,a request is made that data on a WWW server DS designated by the user beprinted by one of the printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n), and whenexecuted by the CPU 30, as shown in FIG. 5, initially moves to stepS100.

In step S100, in accordance with an input by the user, via the key panel40, it is determined whether or not a data print request has been made.If it is determined that there is a data print request (Yes), theprocesses move to step S102, in which the positioning apparatus 46determines the location of the current position. The processes then moveto step S104, in which various information associated with printing isinput via the key panel 40. As the various information associated withprinting, the user inputs, for example, a URL which uniquely identifiesthe location of the WWW server DS on the Internet, which stores theprint data to be printed, a desired service area which is theapproximate location where the service of output data is desired, printspecifications of the printing apparatus PR, such as the size of paper,a designation of color/monochrome, printing resolution, and printingspeed, a data format of the print data to be printed, and when aprinting apparatus PR is to be directly specified, a printing apparatusID that identifies the printing apparatus PR. All of these input itemsare not necessarily required, but are selectively input according touser requirements. As for the URL of the WWW server DS, however, unlessotherwise specified, the URL of the WWW server DS being browsed at thattime by the user with the portable terminal 100 is automatically input.

Next, the processes move to step S106, in which data to be included inthe data print request is generated based on the various informationassociated with printing which has been input. More specifically, thedata to be included in the data print request is generated with thelocation of the current position, determined in step S102, asportable-terminal-position data that identifies the location of thecurrent position; the URL of the WWW server DS as printing targetstorage location data indicating the URL; the desired service area, ifit is input, as desired service area data indicating the desired servicearea; the print specifications of the printing apparatus PR, if they areinput, as print specification data indicating the print specifications;the data format, if it is input, as print format data indicating thedata format; and the printing apparatus ID of the printing apparatus PR,if it is input, as printing-apparatus identification data indicating theprinting apparatus ID.

Next, the processes move to step S108, in which the data print requestis transmitted to the data output control terminal 300. The processesthen move to step S110, in which, as a response thereto,printing-apparatus candidate data listing several candidates of theprinting apparatus PR, which are presumably the most suitable for theuser to receive the service of output data, is received from the dataoutput control terminal 300, and based on the printing-apparatuscandidate data received, the listed candidates of the printing apparatusPR are displayed on the LCD 44. The processes then move to step S112.

In step S112, it is determined whether or not the printing apparatuswhich is desired for the service of output data is included in thecandidates of the printing apparatus PR displayed on the LCD 44. If itis determined, by an input via the key panel 40 selecting one of thecandidates of the printing apparatus PR displayed on the LCD 44, thatthe printing apparatus PR which is desired for the service of outputdata is included (Yes), the processes move to step S114.

In step S114, a determination signal, which indicates that the printingapparatus PR has been determined, is transmitted to the data outputcontrol terminal 300. The processes then move to step S116, in which asa first response to the transmission of the determination signal,printing-apparatus information, which is detailed information regardingthe printing apparatus PR determined (location, print specifications,etc. of the printing apparatus PR) is received from the data outputcontrol terminal 300, and based on the printing-apparatus informationreceived, the detailed information regarding the printing apparatus PRis displayed on the LCD 44. The processes then move to step S118.

In step S118, as a second response to the transmission of thedetermination signal, guide data, indicating guide information (routeinformation, map information, etc.) that guide the user from theposition of the portable terminal 100 to the position where thedetermined printing apparatus PR is provided, is received from the dataoutput control terminal 300, and based on the guide data received, theguide information is displayed on the LCD 44. The processes then move tostep S120, in which as a third response to the transmission of thedetermination signal, preview data is received from the data outputcontrol terminal 300, and based on the received preview data, an imageof a print by the determined printing apparatus PR is displayed on theLCD 44. The processes then move to step S122.

In step S122, it is determined whether or not the print data to beprinted is actually the image displayed on the LCD 44. If it isdetermined that the image displayed on the LCD 44 is correct (Yes) by aninput via the key panel 40 which selects that the image displayed on theLCD 44 is correct, the processes move to step S124. At this time, if thepreview data is composed of a plurality of data, the part thereof whichis desired to be printed can be specified.

In step S124, a data print execution request is transmitted to the dataoutput control terminal 300. The processes then move to step S126, inwhich the authentication data in the ROM 32 is transmitted to the dataoutput control terminal 300. The processes then move to step S128, inwhich as a response thereto, a message is received from the data outputcontrol terminal 300, and the received message is displayed on the LCD44. The processes then move to step S130, in which it is determinedwhether or not a completion signal, which indicates completion of thedata print, has been received from the data output control terminal 300.If it is determined that the completion signal has been received (Yes),the series of processes is exited; however, if it is determinedotherwise (No), step S128 is repeated until the completion signal isreceived.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S122 that the imagedisplayed on the LCD 44 is wrong (No) according to an input via the keypanel 40 which selects that the image displayed on the LCD 44 is wrong,the processes move to step S132, in which a halt signal, which is arequest for halting the data print, is transmitted to the data outputcontrol terminal 300. The series of processes is then exited.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S112, according to aninput via the key panel 40 which selects the desired printing apparatusis not included in the candidates of the printing apparatus PR displayedon the LCD 44, that the printing apparatus PR which is desired for theservice of output data is not included (No), the processes move to stepS134, in which a retry signal, which is a request to search again forthe printing apparatus PR which is presumably the most suitable forreceiving the service of output data, is transmitted to the data outputcontrol terminal 300. The processes then move to step S104.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S100 that there is nodata print request from the user (No), the processes wait in step S100until a data print request is issued.

Next, the structure of the data output control terminal 300 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a schematic showing theconstruction of the data output control terminal 300.

The data output control terminal 300 obtains data associated with a dataprint request from the portable terminal 100, selects one of theprinting apparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n) by which the data is to be printed,and outputs the data obtained to the selected printing apparatus PR. Asshown in FIG. 6, the data output control terminal 300 includes a CPU 50which controls operations and the overall system based on a controlprogram; a ROM 52 which stores, in advance, the control program for theCPU 50, etc. in a predetermined area; a RAM 54 which stores data whichhas been read from the ROM 52, etc. and operation results required inthe course of the operations by the CPU 50; a CRTC 56 that converts thedata stored in a specific area of the RAM 54 into an image signal andoutputting the image signal; and an I/F which intermediates data inputfrom and data output to external apparatuses; the components beingmutually connected via a bus 59, which is a signal line that transfersdata, so as to allow exchange of data.

As the external apparatuses, an input apparatus 60 including a keyboard,a mouse, etc., which serves as a human interface and which allows inputof data, a storage apparatus 62 which stores data, tables, etc. asfiles, a display apparatus 64 on which an image is displayed based onthe image signal, and a signal line that connects to the Internet 400are connected to the I/F 58.

The RAM 54 includes, as the specific area, a VRAM 55 that stores thedisplay data to display on the display apparatus 64, the VRAM 55allowing independent accesses from the CPU 50 and the CRTC 56.

The CRTC 56 sequentially reads, at a predetermined cycle, the displaydata stored in the VRAM 55 from the start address, converts the displaydata which has been read into an image signal, and outputs the imagesignal to the display apparatus 64.

The storage apparatus 62 stores printing-apparatus information regardingthe printing apparatuses PR, which is required to select one of theprinting apparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n) by which data is to be printed. Theprinting-apparatus information is configured by registering, for each ofthe printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n), printing apparatus position datathat identifies the location of the printing apparatus PR, print formatdata indicating the data format which can be converted by thedata-format-conversion terminal CS corresponding to the printingapparatus PR (i.e., a data format which allows printing by the printingapparatus PR), print specification data indicating the printspecifications of the printing apparatus PR, and printing-apparatusidentification data indicating the printing apparatus ID.

The CPU 50 includes a microprocessing unit MPU, etc., and activates apredetermined program stored in a predetermined area of the ROM 52 toexecute, according to the program, data output control processes shownin the flowchart of FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the dataoutput control processes.

The data output control processes obtain, from a WWW server DS, printdata associated with a data print request from the portable terminal100, selects one of the printing apparatuses PR, which is presumably themost suitable for the user of the portable terminal 100 to receive theservice of output data, and outputs the print data obtained to theselected printing apparatus PR, and when executed by the CPU 50, asshown in FIG. 7, initially moves to step S200.

In step S200, it is determined whether or not the data print request hasbeen received from the portable terminal 100. If it is determined thatthe data print request has been received (Yes), the processes move tostep S202, in which data included in the received data print request(including at least the portable-terminal-position data and the printtarget storage location data) is obtained. The processes then move tostep S204, in which a printing apparatus PR which is presumably the mostsuitable for the user of the portable terminal 100 to receive theservice of output data is selected.

More specifically, in step S204, a search is performed on the printingapparatus position data in the storage apparatus 62 based on theportable-terminal-position data obtained, selecting several printingapparatuses PR which are presumably nearest, in terms of distance ortime, with reference to the position of the portable terminal 100. Ifdesired service area data is included in the data print request, asearch is performed on the printing apparatus position data in thestorage apparatus 62 based on the desired service area data, selectingall the printing apparatuses PR in the area identified by the desiredservice area data. If print specification data is included in the dataprint request, a search is performed on the print specification data inthe storage apparatus 62 based on the obtained print specification data,selecting all the printing apparatuses PR which comply with the printspecification data.

If print format data is included in the data print request, a search isperformed on the print format data in the storage apparatus 62 based onthe print format data obtained, selecting all the printing apparatusesPR which comply with the print format data. If printing-apparatusidentification data is included in the data print request, a search isperformed on the printing-apparatus identification data in the storageapparatus 62 based on the obtained printing-apparatus identificationdata, selecting a printing apparatus PR corresponding to theprinting-apparatus identification data. If these data are compositelyincluded in the data print request, a search is performed based on eachof the data. If the desired service area data is included, and theposition identified by the portable-terminal-position data is notincluded in the area identified by the desired service area data, asearch based on the portable-terminal-position data is not performed. Ifthe printing-apparatus identification data is included, a search basedon other data is not performed.

Next, in step S204, printing-apparatus candidate data which lists theprinting apparatuses PR selected in step S202 is generated, and theprinting-apparatus candidate data generated is transmitted to theportable terminal 100. The processes then move to step S208.

In step S208, it is determined whether or not the determination signalhas been received from the portable terminal 100. If it is determinedthat the determination signal has been received (Yes), the processesmove to step S210, in which print data is obtained from the WWW serverDS identified by the URL included in the obtained print target storagelocation data. The processes then move to step S211, in which the printdata obtained is transmitted to the data-format-conversion terminal CSwhich allows conversion of the print data and which corresponds to thedetermined printing apparatus PR, and as a response thereto, obtainsfrom the data-format-conversion terminal CS data which can be printed bythe determined printing apparatus PR and preview data. The processesthen move to step S212.

In step S212, printing-apparatus information regarding the determinedprinting apparatus is read from the storage apparatus 62, and theprinting-apparatus information which has been read is transmitted to theportable terminal 100. The processes then move to step S214, in whichguide data regarding the determined printing apparatus PR is generated,and the generated guide data is transmitted to the portable terminal100. The processes then move to step S216, in which the preview data istransmitted to the portable terminal 100. The processes then move tostep S218.

In step S218, it is determined whether or not a data print executionrequest has been received from the portable terminal 100. If it isdetermined that the data print request has been received (Yes), theprocesses move to step S220, in which authentication data is receivedfrom the portable terminal 100. The processes then move to step S222, inwhich authentication processes are executed, based on the receivedauthentication data, in order to determine whether or not the user ofthe portable terminal 100 is a legitimate user of the print serviceprovided by the data output control terminal 300. The processes thenmove to step S224.

In step S224, as a result of the authentication processes in step S222,in which it is determined whether or not the user of the portableterminal 100 is a legitimate user, if the user is determined as alegitimate user (Yes), the processes move to step S226, in which thedata which can be printed by the determined printing apparatus PR istransmitted to the printing apparatus PR. The processes then move tostep S228, in which billing processes are executed in which billing isexecuted in accordance with the result of usage by the portable terminal100 of the print service provided by the data output control terminal300.

In step S228, more specifically, the call charge of the portableterminal 100 (e.g. call charge on a minute basis) is calculated, and asthe result of use by the portable terminal 100, with reference to thecharge calculation definition table which defines the service charge asthe price of the print service with regard to, for example, the volumeof the data obtained, the number of prints by the printing apparatus PR,and the print specifications of the printing apparatus PR, the servicecharge in accordance with the result of use by the portable terminal 100is calculated. The calculated service charge is added to the callcharge, the added total sum being stored as the charge amount to theuser of the portable terminal 100.

Next, the processes move to step S230, in which a billing message, whichindicates the service charge calculated in the billing processes of stepS228 is transmitted to the portable terminal 100. The processes thenmove to step S232, in which a completion message, which indicatescompletion of the data print, is transmitted to the portable terminal100. The series of processes is then exited.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S224 that the user of theportable terminal 100 is not a legitimate user (No), the processes moveto step S236, in which a message indicating that the user is anillegitimate user is transmitted to the portable terminal 100. Theseries of processes is then exited.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S218 that the data printexecution request has not been received from the portable terminal 100(No), the processes move to step S238, in which it is determined whetheror not the halt signal has been received from the portable terminal 100.If it is determined that the halt signal has been received (Yes), theseries of processes is exited, but if otherwise (No), the processes moveto step S218.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S208 that thedetermination signal has not been received from the portable terminal100 (No), the processes move to step S240, in which it is determinedwhether or not the retry signal has been received from the portableterminal 100. If it is determined that the retry signal has beenreceived (Yes), the processes move to step S200, but if otherwise (No),the processes move to step S208.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S200 that the data printrequest has not been received from the portable terminal 100 (No), theprocesses wait in step S200 until the data print request is received.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.

First, when a legitimate user of the print service provided by the dataoutput control terminal 300 operates the portable terminal 100 hecarries, accessing, for example, the WWW server DS₁, display data on theWWW server DS₁ is displayed on the LCD 44. The description will be madeby way of example in relation to a case where the user is to printdetailed data of the data displayed on the LCD 44.

In order to print the desired data, the user initially inputs a dataprint request via the key panel 40.

On the portable terminal 100, when the data print request is input,through steps S100 and S102, the CPU 30 determines the location of thecurrent position by the positioning apparatus 46, displaying on the LCD44 a request for input of various information associated with printing.The user specifies and inputs, as the various information associatedwith printing, the URL of the WWW server DS₁ which is being browsed.Then, through steps S104 to S108, based on the various informationassociated with printing which has been input,portable-terminal-position data and print target storage location dataare generated as data to be included in the data print request, and thedata print request is transmitted to the data output control terminal300.

Meanwhile, on the data-format-conversion terminals CS₁ to CS_(l), one ormore of the data-format-conversion terminals CS₁ to CS_(l), which isrequired for the data-format-conversion processes, is selected in theorder for the transmission load of the Internet 400 or the processingload of the data-format-conversion terminals CS to be low, thedata-format-conversion processing being executed by the selecteddata-format-conversion terminals.

Meanwhile, on the data output control terminal 300, when the data printrequest is received, through steps S200 to S204, the CPU 50 obtains thedata (the portable-terminal-position data and print target storagelocation data) included in the received data print request, and performsa search on the print apparatus position data in the storage apparatus62 based on the obtained portable-terminal-position data, selectingseveral printing apparatuses PR which are presumably nearest, in termsof distance or time, with reference to the position of the portableterminal 100. If the printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR₅ are selected,through step S206, printing-apparatus candidate data listing theprinting apparatuses PR₁ to PR₅ is generated, and the generatedprinting-apparatus candidate data is transmitted to the portableterminal 100.

On the portable terminal 100, when the printing-apparatus candidate datais received, through step S110, based on the received printing-apparatuscandidate data, the listed printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR₅ are displayedon the LCD 44. When the user inputs a selection of the printingapparatus PR₁, through steps S112 and S114, a determination signalindicating that the printing apparatus PR₁ has been determined istransmitted to the data output control terminal 300.

On the data output control terminal 300, when the determination signalis received, through steps S208 to S211, the print data is obtained fromthe WWW server DS₁ identified by the URL included in the obtained printtarget storage location data, and the obtained print data is transmittedto a data-format-conversion terminal CS (e.g. the data-format-conversionterminal CS₁) which allows conversion of the print data and whichcorresponds to the determined printing apparatus PR₁.

On the data-format-conversion terminal CS₁, when the print data isreceived, the received data is converted into data which can be printedby the printing apparatus PR₁. Also, preview data is generated inaccordance with the display functionality of the portable terminal 100.The converted data which can be printed by the printing apparatus PR₁and the preview data generated are transmitted to the data outputcontrol terminal 300.

On the data output control terminal 300, when the data which can beprinted by the printing apparatus PR₁ and the preview data are received,through steps S212 to S216, printing-apparatus information regarding thedetermined printing apparatus PR₁ is read from the storage apparatus 62,and the printing-apparatus information which has been read istransmitted to the portable terminal 100. Also, guide data regarding thedetermined printing apparatus PR₁ is generated, and the guide datagenerated and the preview data received are transmitted to the portableterminal 100.

On the portable terminal 100, when the printing-apparatus information,the guide data, and the preview data are received, through steps S116 toS120, based on the received printing-apparatus information, detailedinformation regarding the printing apparatus PR is displayed on the LCD44, and based on the received guide data, guide information from theposition of the portable terminal 100 to the position where the printingapparatus PR₁ is disposed is displayed on the LCD 44, and based on thereceived preview data, an image of a print by the determined printingapparatus PR₁ is displayed on the LCD 44. When the user inputs via thekey panel 40 a selection that the image displayed on the LCD 44 iscorrect for the display data to be printed, through steps S122 to S126,a data print execution request and the authentication data in the ROM 32are transmitted to the data output control terminal 300.

On the data output control terminal 300, when the data print executionrequest and the authentication data are received, through steps S218 toS222, authentication processes are executed based on the receivedauthentication data. Since the user is a legitimate user of the printservice provided by the data output control terminal 300, through stepsS224 to S234, the data which can be printed by the determined printingapparatus PR₁ is transmitted to the printing apparatus PR₁, the billingprocesses are executed, and a billing message, a completion message, anda completion signal are transmitted to the portable terminal 100.

On the portable terminal 100, when the billing message, the completionmessage, and the completion signal are received, through a repetition ofsteps S128 and S130, the billing message and the completion message aredisplayed on the LCD 44. Meanwhile, on the printing apparatus PR₁, whenthe data which can be printed by the printing apparatus PR₁ is received,printing is executed based on the received data.

When the completion message is displayed, the user visits the store S₁where the printing apparatus PR₁ is provided with reference to the guideinformation displayed on the LCD 44, and receives the data printed bythe printing apparatus PR₁. The service charge as the price of the printservice is charged by being added to the call charge of the portableterminal 100.

The service provider charges with the user the service charge as theprice of the print service, added to the call charge, thereby obtainingthe price of the service.

If the user inputs, as the various information associated with printing,a desired service area which is the approximate location where theservice of output data is desired, desired service area data indicatingthe desired service area is transmitted to the data output controlterminal 300. On the data output control terminal 300, a search isperformed on the printing apparatus position data in the storageapparatus 62 based on the obtained desired service area data, selectingall the printing apparatuses PR in the area identified by the desiredservice area data.

For example, if the user inputs “Shibuya” as the desired service area,on the portable terminal 100, all the printing apparatuses PR providedin the proximity of Shibuya are displayed on the LCD 44.

If the user inputs the print specifications of the printing apparatus PRas the various information associated with printing, print specificationdata indicating the print specifications is transmitted to the dataoutput control terminal 300. On the data output control terminal 300, asearch is performed on the print specification data in the storageapparatus 62 based on the obtained print specification data, selectingall the printing apparatuses PR which comply with the printspecification data.

For example, if the user inputs “color” as the print specifications, onthe portable terminal 100, all the printing apparatuses which allowprinting of data in color are displayed on the LCD 44.

If the user inputs data format as the various information associatedwith printing, print format data indicating the data format istransmitted to the data output control terminal 300. On the data outputcontrol terminal 300, a search is performed on the print format data inthe storage apparatus 62 based on the obtained print format data,selecting all the printing apparatuses PR which comply with the printformat data.

For example, if the user inputs “HTML format” as the data format, on theportable terminal 100, all the printing apparatuses PR corresponding toa data-format-conversion terminal CS which allows conversion of data inHTML format are displayed on the LCD 44.

If the user inputs a printing apparatus ID of the printing apparatus PRas the various information associated with printing in order to directlyspecify the printing apparatus PR, printing-apparatus identificationdata indicating the printing apparatus ID is transmitted to the dataoutput control terminal 300. On the data output control terminal 300, asearch is performed on the printing apparatus data in the storageapparatus 62 based on the obtained printing-apparatus identificationdata, selecting the printing apparatus PR corresponding to theprinting-apparatus identification data.

For example, if the user inputs “0001” as the printing apparatus ID, onthe portable terminal 100, a printing apparatus PR whose printingapparatus ID is “0001” is displayed on the LCD 44. If a printingapparatus PR whose printing apparatus ID is “0001” does not exist, noprinting apparatus PR is displayed.

If the user inputs the desired service area, the print specifications,and the data format compositely as the various information associatedwith printing, data indicating them is transmitted to the data outputcontrol terminal 300. On the data output control terminal 300, a searchis performed based on the obtained plurality of data, and selecting allthe printing apparatuses PR in accordance therewith.

For example, if the user inputs “Shibuya”, “color”, and “HTML format” asthe desired service area, the print specifications, and the data format,on the portable terminal 100, of the printing apparatuses PRcorresponding to the data-format-conversion terminal CS which allowsconversion of data in HTML format, all the printing apparatuses providedin the proximity of Shibuya and which allow printing of data in colorare displayed on the LCD 44.

If the user is not a legitimate user of the print service provided bythe data output control terminal 300, when the image is displayed on theLCD 44, even if a selection that the printing data to be printed isactually the image displayed on the LCD 44 is input via the key panel40, the desired data is not printed by the printing apparatus PR₁.

Thus, in the embodiment, the data output control terminal 300 selectsone of the printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n) from printing apparatusesPR corresponding to a data-format-conversion terminal CS which allowsconversion of the data associated with the data print request; outputsthe data associated with the data print request to adata-format-conversion terminal CS, of the data-format-conversionterminals CS which execute data-format-conversion processes, whichallows conversion of the data and which corresponds to the selectedprinting apparatus PR; by the data-format-conversion terminal CS,converts the data associated with the data print request into data whichcan be printed by the selected printing apparatus PR; and outputs theconverted data to the selected printing apparatus PR.

Thus, detailed information on the Internet 400 can be readily obtainedcompared with before. In particular, even if an output terminal is newlyprovided, setting of the data conversion device needs to be changed bythe service provider only in relation to the new output terminal,allowing the new output terminal to be used without any change insetting by the user. Accordingly, the service provider will receive theadvantages that setting works for newly provided output terminals arefacilitated and that an information service with an adequatesatisfaction can be provided to the user.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, with regard to thedata-format-conversion terminals CS₁ to CS_(l), one or more of thedata-format-conversion terminals CS₁ to CS_(l) is selected, so that thedata-format-conversion processes are executed on the selecteddata-format-conversion terminals CS.

Thus, because the data-format-conversion processes are executed ondata-format-conversion terminals CS with which the transmission load ofthe Internet 400 or the processing load is low, irrespective of thetransmission load of the Internet 400 or the processing load of thedata-format-conversion terminals CS, the time required to receive theservice of output data is substantially constant. Accordingly, theservice provider is allowed to provide to the user a print service withan even more comfortable printing environment.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the data output control terminal 300transmits preview data generated by a data-format-conversion terminalCS, and when a data print execution request from the portable terminal100 is received as a response to the output of the preview data, itoutputs data associated with the data print request to a printingapparatus PR.

Thus, by notifying the user of the preview data prior to the service ofoutput data, the user is prevented from printing wrong data.Accordingly, the service provider is allowed to provide to the user aneven more satisfactory information service.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the data-format-conversion terminals CS₁to CS_(l) generates preview data in accordance with the displayfunctionality of each type of the portable terminal 100.

Thus, an optimal image is displayed on the portable terminal 100 inaccordance with the display functionality, allowing the user to grasprather accurately an image of the data associated with the data printrequest as printed by the printing apparatus PR. Thus, the user isfurther prevented from printing wrong data. Accordingly, the serviceprovider is allowed to provide to the user an even more satisfactoryinformation service.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the data output control terminal 300obtains data associated with a data print request from a WWW server DS.

Thus, when detailed information is printed, the data output controlterminal 300 processes print data and data which can be printed by theprinting apparatus PR, eliminating the need for an expanded memory onthe portable terminal 100 and reducing the processing load of theportable terminal 100. Furthermore, since the portable terminal 100 neednot read data, the communications time is reduced, thus reducing thetime required for receiving output data. Accordingly, the serviceprovider is allowed to provide to the user a print service with acomfortable printing environment which is independent of thefunctionality of the portable terminal 100.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the data output control terminal 300selects one of a plurality of printing apparatuses PR based onportable-terminal-position data for identifying the position of theportable terminal 100.

Thus, data is printed by a printing apparatus PR in relation to theposition of the portable terminal 100. Thus, for example, by selecting aprinting apparatus PR which is presumably nearest, in terms of distanceor time, with reference to the position of the portable terminal 100,the user is allowed to receive output data more easily, obtainingdetailed information on the Internet 400 even more easily. Accordingly,the service provider is allowed to provide to the user an even moresatisfactory information service.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the data output control terminal 300obtains data from a WWW server identified by a URL included in a dataprint request.

Thus, detailed information on any WWW server DS connected to theInternet 400 can be obtained. Accordingly, the service provider canprovide to the user an even more satisfactory information service.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the data output control terminal 300obtains from a WWW server DS print data as data associated with a dataprint request.

Thus, rough information is displayed on the portable terminal 100 anddetailed information is printed by the printing apparatus PR, thusallowing the portable terminal 100 to obtain detailed information on theInternet 400 while achieving a comfortable display processing.Accordingly, the service provider is allowed to provide to the user aneven more satisfactory information service, and a print service with aneven more comfortable printing environment.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the data output control terminal 300executes billing in accordance with the result of use by the portableterminal 100 of the print service provided by the data output controlterminal 300.

Thus, the service charge as the price of the print service can bespecifically calculated, and the service charge need not be calculatedeach time the print service is used. Thus, the procedure of settling theservice charge is facilitated, and the service charge can bespecifically notified to the user; accordingly, the service provider isallowed to provide an even more satisfactory information service.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the service charge as the price of theprint service is summed with the call charge.

Accordingly, for the user, payment of the service charge is facilitated;for the service provider, collection of the service charge will beeasier and more secure, and the procedure of settling the service chargeis further facilitated.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the data output control terminal 300transmits to the portable terminal 100 guide data indicating guideinformation that guides the user from the position of the portableterminal 100 to the position where the determined printing apparatus PRis provided.

Thus, the user is allowed to visit, according to the guide information,the position where the printing apparatus PR is provided, thus obtainingoutput data relatively securely. Accordingly, the service provider isallowed to provide to the user an even more satisfactory informationservice.

In the above-described embodiment, the printing apparatuses PRcorrespond to the output terminals, the data-format-conversion terminalsCS₁ to CS_(l) correspond to the data conversion devices, and to theimage data generating device, step S204 corresponds to the selectingdevice, step S226 corresponds to the output device, and steps S216 andS226 correspond to the output device.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, the printing apparatuses PRcorrespond to the output terminals, the data-format-conversion terminalsCS₁ to CS_(l) correspond to the data conversion devices, step S204corresponds to the selecting device, and step S226 corresponds to theoutput device.

In the above-described embodiment, the arrangement is such that asprinting apparatuses PR which are presumably the most suitable for theuser of the portable terminal 100 to receive the service of output data,printing apparatuses PR which are presumably nearest, in terms ofdistance or time, with reference to the position of the portableterminal, printing apparatuses PR in an area identified by desiredservice area data, printing apparatuses PR which comply with printformat data, printing apparatuses PR which comply with printspecification data, or a printing apparatus PR corresponding toprinting-apparatus identification data are selected; however, withoutlimitation thereto, in addition, for example, printing apparatuses PRwhich presumably allow the user to receive the service of output dataquickest in time with considerations to the output rates of the printingapparatuses PR, or printing apparatuses PR which provide the service ofoutput data at the cheapest price may be selected.

In the former arrangement, because data associated with a data printrequest is printed by a printing apparatus PR which presumably allowsthe user to receive the service of output data quickest in time, theuser receives the service of output data in accordance with his purpose,thus being allowed to readily obtain detailed information on theInternet 400.

In the latter arrangement, because data associated with a data printrequest is printed by a printing apparatus PR which provides the serviceof output data at the cheapest price, the user is allowed to receive theservice of output data in accordance with his purpose, thus beingallowed to readily obtain detailed information on the Internet 400.Accordingly, the service provider is allowed to provide to the user aneven more satisfactory information service.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the arrangement is suchthat the printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n) that print data areprovided, data associated with a data print request from the portableterminal 100 being printed by one of the printing apparatuses PR;however, without limitation thereto, for example, the arrangement may besuch that output apparatuses which displays data or outputs data assound, etc. are provided, data associated with a data output requestfrom the portable terminal 100 being output by one of the outputapparatuses.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the arrangement is suchthat preview data is generated by the data-format-conversion terminalsCS; however, without limitation thereto, the arrangement may be suchthat the preview data is generated by the data output control terminal300.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, with regard to thedata-format-conversion terminals CS₁ to CS_(l), the arrangement is suchthat one or more of the data-format-conversion terminals CS₁ to CS_(l)is selected in accordance with the transmission load of the Internet 400or the processing load of the data-format-conversion terminals CS, thedata-format-conversion processes being executed by the selecteddata-format-conversion terminals CS; however, without limitationthereto, the arrangement may be such that the data-format-conversionprocesses are executed by a specific data-format-conversion terminal.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the arrangement is suchthat the processes shown in the flowcharts of FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 areexecuted by a specific data output control terminal 300; however,without limitation thereto, the arrangement may be such that, similarlyto the data-format-conversion terminals CS₁ to CS_(l), a plurality ofdata output control terminals is provided, and one of the plurality ofdata output control terminals is selected in accordance with thetransmission load of the Internet 400 or the processing load of the dataoutput control terminals, the processes being executed by the selecteddata output control terminal.

In accordance with the arrangement, because the processes shown in theflowcharts of FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 are executed by a data output controlterminal with which the transmission load of the Internet 400 or theprocessing load is low, irrespective of the transmission load of theInternet 400 or the processing load of the data output controlterminals, the time required to receive the service of output data issubstantially constant. Accordingly, the service provider is allowed toprovide to the user a printing service with an even more comfortableprinting environment.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the description dealswith a case in which a data output control apparatus according to thepresent invention is applied with the Internet 400; however, withoutlimitation thereto, it may be applied with networks other than theInternet 400.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the portable terminal100, the data-format-conversion terminals CS₁ to CS_(l), the WWW serversDS₁ to DS_(m), the printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n), and the dataoutput control terminal 300 are connected via the same network; however,without limitation thereto, the data output control terminal 300 and theportable terminal 100, the data output control terminal 300 and thedata-format-conversion terminals CS₁ to CS_(l), the data output controlterminal 300 and the WWW servers DS₁ to DS_(m), and the data outputcontrol terminal 300 and the printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n) may berespectively connected via different networks.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the description dealswith a case where the processes shown in the flowcharts of FIG. 5 andFIG. 7 are executed by executing the control programs stored, inadvance, in the ROMs 32 and 52; however, without limitation thereto, theprograms to be executed may be read into the RAMs 34 and 54 from astorage medium storing the programs showing the procedures.

The storage medium is a semiconductor storage medium, such as a RAM orROM, a storage medium of the magnetic storage type, such as an FD or anHD, a storage medium of the optical reading type, such as a CD, a CDV,an LD, and a DVD, or a storage medium of the magnetic storagetype/optical reading type, such as an MO, and includes any storagemedium which is computer readable, irrespective of the reading methodsuch as electronic, magnetic, and optical.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a data output controlapparatus according to the present invention is applied to a case where,as shown in FIG. 3, by the data output control terminal 300, the serviceprovider provides the service of, in response to a data print requestfrom a user, obtaining data associated with the data print request fromone of the WWW servers DS₁ to DS_(m), and outputting the data to one ofthe printing apparatuses PR₁ to PR_(n); however, without limitationthereto, it may be applied to other cases without departing from thegist of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A data output control apparatus which iscommunicatively connected, via a network, to a portable terminal,carried by a user, that issues a data print request, and to a pluralityof output terminals, provided at various locations, that print data, andwhich outputs, in response to the data print request from said portableterminal, data associated with the data print request to said outputterminals, the data output control apparatus comprising: a dataconversion device that converts the data associated with the data printrequest into data which can be printed by said output terminals; aselecting device that selects one of said output terminals; and anoutput device that outputs the data converted by said data conversiondevice to the output terminal selected by said selecting device, thedata associated with the data print request being output to the dataconversion device, which is a data conversion device that allowsconversion of the data and corresponding to the output terminal selectedby said selecting device.
 2. A data output control apparatus which iscommunicatively connected, via a network, to a portable terminal,carried by a user, that issues a data print request, and to a pluralityof output terminals, provided at various locations, that print data, andwhich outputs, in response to the data print request from said portableterminal, data associated with the data print request to said outputterminals, the data output control apparatus comprising: a plurality ofdata conversion devices that convert, of the data associated with thedata print request, data of predetermined formats into data which can beprinted by one or more of said plurality of output terminals; aselecting device that selects one of said plurality of output terminalsfrom output terminals corresponding to data conversion device whichallows conversion of the data associated with the data print request;and an output device that outputs the data converted by said dataconversion device to the output terminal selected by said selectingdevice, the data associated with the data print request being output toone of said plurality of data conversion devices, which is a dataconversion device that allows conversion of the data and correspondingto the output terminal selected by said selecting device.
 3. A dataoutput control apparatus which is communicatively connected, via anetwork, to a portable terminal, carried by a user, that issues a dataprint request, and to a plurality of output terminals, provided atvarious locations, that print data, and which outputs, in response tothe data print request from said portable terminal, data associated withthe data print request to said output terminals, the data output controlapparatus comprising: a data conversion device that converts the dataassociated with the data print request into data which can be printed bysaid output terminals; a selecting device that selects one of saidplurality of output terminals; and an output device that outputs thedata converted by said data conversion device to the output terminalselected by said selecting device, said data conversion device beingcommunicatively connected to the network, changing its position on saidnetwork in accordance with the transmission load of said network or itsown processing load.
 4. The data output control terminal according toclaim 3, said data conversion device changes its position on saidnetwork to a position, of the positions said data conversion device isallowed to be connected to, at which the transmission load of saidnetwork or its own processing load is low.
 5. The data output controlapparatus according to claim 4, said data conversion device selects adata conversion terminal with which the transmission load of saidnetwork or its own processing load is low, of a plurality of dataconversion terminals, communicatively connected to said network, toexecute data conversion processes which convert the data associated withthe data print request into the data which can be printed by said outputterminals, said data conversion processes being executed by the selecteddata conversion terminal.
 6. The data output control apparatus which iscommunicatively connected, via a network, to a portable terminal,carried by a user, that issues a data print request, and to a pluralityof output terminals, provided at various locations, that print data, andwhich outputs, in response to the data print request from said portableterminal, data associated with the data print request to said outputterminals, the data output control apparatus comprising: an image datagenerating device that generates image data which can be displayed onsaid portable terminal, which is an image of the data associated withthe data print request as printed by said output terminals; a selectingdevice that selects one of said plurality of output terminals; and anoutput device that outputs the data associated with the data printrequest to the output terminal selected by said selecting device, saidoutput device outputs the image data generated by said image datagenerating device to said portable terminal, and when a data printexecution request is received from said portable terminal as a responseto the output of the image data, the output device outputs the dataassociated with the data print request to the output terminal selectedby said selecting device, said image data generating device generatesthe image data in accordance with the display functionality of theportable terminal to which the image data is to be output.
 7. A dataoutput control apparatus which is communicatively connected, via anetwork, to a portable terminal, carried by a user, that issues a dataoutput request, and to a plurality of output terminals, provided atvarious locations, that output data, and which outputs, in response tothe data output request from said portable terminal, data associatedwith the data output request to said output terminals, the data outputcontrol apparatus comprising: a data conversion device that converts thedata associated with the data output request into data which can beoutput by said output terminals; a selecting device that selects one ofsaid output terminals; and an output device that outputs the dataconverted by said data conversion device to the output terminal selectedby said selecting device, the data associated with the data outputrequest being output to the data conversion device, which is a dataconversion device that allows conversion of the data and correspondingto the output terminal selected by said selecting device.
 8. A dataoutput control apparatus which is communicatively connected, via anetwork, to a portable terminal, carried by a user, that issues a dataoutput request, and to a plurality of output terminals, provided atvarious locations, that outputs data, and which outputs, in response tothe data output request from said portable terminal, data associatedwith the data output request to said output terminals, the data outputcontrol apparatus comprising: a plurality of data conversion devicesthat convert, of the data associated with the data output request, dataof predetermined formats into data which can be output by one or more ofsaid plurality of output terminals; a selecting device that selects oneof said plurality of output terminals from output terminalscorresponding to data conversion device which allows conversion of thedata associated with the data output request; and an output device thatoutputs the data converted by said data conversion device to the outputterminal selected by said selecting device, the data associated with thedata output request is output to one of said plurality of dataconversion devices, which is data conversion device allowing conversionof the data and corresponding to the output terminal selected by saidselecting device.
 9. A data output control apparatus which iscommunicatively connected, via a network, to a portable terminal,carried by a user, that issues a data output request, and to a pluralityof output terminals, provided at various locations, that outputs data,and which outputs, in response to the data output request from saidportable terminal, data associated with the data output request to saidoutput terminals, the data output control apparatus comprising: a dataconversion device that converts the data associated with the data outputrequest into data which can be output by said output terminals; aselecting device that selects one of said plurality of output terminals;and an output device that outputs the data converted by said dataconversion device to the output terminal selected by said selectingdevice, said data conversion device is communicatively connected to thenetwork, changing its position on said network in accordance with thetransmission load of said network or its own processing load.
 10. Thedata output control terminal according to claim 9, said data conversiondevice changes its position on said network to a position, of thepositions said data conversion device is allowed to be connected to, atwhich the transmission load of said network or its own processing loadis low.
 11. The data output control apparatus according to claim 10,said data conversion device selects a data conversion terminal withwhich the transmission load of said network or its own processing loadis low, of a plurality of data conversion terminals, communicativelyconnected to said network, to execute data conversion processes whichconvert the data associated with the data output request into the datawhich can be output by said output terminals, said data conversionprocesses being executed by the selected data conversion terminal.